University of Houston Athletics
2005 Baseball Recruiting Class Ranked among Nation's Best
10/1/2004 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Oct. 1, 2004
HOUSTON - The University of Houston baseball team was ranked No. 38 in Collegiate Baseball newspaper's 22nd annual ranking of NCAA Division I recruiting classes released Thursday.
The Cougar class was made up of 17 high school signees, three players from the junior college ranks and two transfers.
While the Cougars should rank among the nation's youngest teams in 2005, UH head coach Rayner Noble sees plenty of promise in his newcomers and praised the group's abilities.
"This is a start-over point for us, in a sense. We are going to be pretty young in the infield and on the mound," said Noble, who enters his 11th season at the helm of the Cougar Baseball program. "But, this is as deep of a recruiting class that we have ever had in quality. I am excited about the possibilities."
Despite the youth in the newcomer group, Noble said every member could see playing time in their first years with the program.
"All of these guys have the ability to step right in and play," Noble said. "There is tremendous competition within in the group. They are a hard-working crew. "
UH ranked fourth among C-USA schools in the Collegiate Baseball poll, trailing only Tulane (No. 5), TCU (No. 26) and East Carolina (No. 29). The recruiting class of LSU, who UH will play host to on Feb. 25-27, was ranked No. 1 by the editors of the magazine.
The Cougars begin fall practice on Tuesday, October 5 at Cougar Field. The team will likely practice three days a week and hold intrasquad scrimmages three days a week.
The players have been working with Noble and assistant coaches Kirk Blount, Sean Allen and Rommie Maxey both individually and in small groups since school started in late August. The start of fall practice marks the first time, according to NCAA regulations, that the team can come together as a group and work out on the field.
UH opens its 2005 season at the Minute Maid Park College Classic. There, the Cougars will face Baylor at 3 p.m., Feb. 11, Oklahoma State at 11 a.m., Feb. 12 and Texas A&M at 6 p.m., Feb. 13.
Collegiate Baseball's 2004 Recruiting Results
Rk. Team (Recruits, Frosh, JC, Transfers)
1. LSU (11, 7, 2, 2)
2. Arizona State (15, 12, 2, 1)
3. Texas (11, 8, 2, 1)
4. Oklahoma State (23, 4, 17, 2)
5. Tulane (12, 9, 1, 2)
6. Arizona (10, 8, 1, 1)
7. Miami, Fla. (11, 8, 2, 1)
8. Pepperdine (15, 12, 3, 0)
9. South Carolina (15, 7, 8, 0)
10. Oklahoma (22, 11, 10, 1)
11. Stanford (7, 7, 0, 0)
12. Clemson (15, 8, 5, 2)
13. Rice (22, 17, 5, 0)
14. Texas A&M (12, 9, 1, 2)
15. Cal State Fullerton (11, 8, 3, 0)
16. Nebraska (21, 15, 5, 1)
17. Fresno State (19, 14, 4, 1)
18. North Carolina (13, 13, 0, 0)
19. Vanderbilt (11, 10, 0, 1)
20. USC (13, 11, 2, 0)
21. North Carolina State (13, 9, 2, 2)
22. Florida (12, 11, 1, 0)
23. Alabama (16, 11, 4, 1)
24. Florida State (16, 11, 5, 0)
24. Tennessee (7, 6, 1, 0)
25. Kentucky (21, 13, 7, 1)
26. TCU (18, 11, 4, 3)
27. Long Beach State (16, 7, 7, 2)
29. East Carolina (8, 7, 1, 0)
30. Georgia Tech (9, 9, 0, 0)
31. Mississippi (13, 8, 5, 0)
32. Virginia (13, 10, 2, 1)
33. Mississippi State (7, 6, 1, 0)
34. Washington (17, 15, 1, 1)
35. Arkansas (20, 14, 4, 2)
36. Wichita State (10, 9, 0, 1,)
37. Notre Dame (6, 6, 0, 0)
38. Houston (22, 17, 3, 2)
39. Nevada (13, 8, 3, 2)
40. Auburn (10, 5, 3, 2)
OTHER TOP RECRUITING CLASSES: College of Charleston, Elon, High Point, Georgia, Iowa, Pittsburgh, San Jose State, USF, Loyola Marymount, Kent State, Minnesota, Michigan, Oregon State, Santa Clara, Louisiana-Lafayette, Central Michigan, Louisville, St. John's, Texas Tech, UCLA, California, N.C. Wilmington, Ohio State, Oral Roberts, Illinois, U.C. Riverside, Florida Atlantic, Stetson, Villanova, South Alabama, West Virginia, UCF, James Madison, Lamar, Louisiana-Monroe, Northern Illinois, Ohio, U.C. Irvine, Charlotte, Creighton, N.C. Greensboro, Southern Miss, Baylor, Southern, Arkansas-Little Rock.
2005 Houston Opponents in Bold
